The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1887-11-10
OUR RURAL TOPICS.
Some Practical Suggestions for Our
Agricultural Readers
PERMANENT PASTURES.

PERMANENT PASTURES.
The value Of pastures is something that pos
sesses deep interest to all farmers, especially
those who are engaged in dairying. It is CON-
ing moro and more TO be believed that perms-
nence in grass lands is of Importance. Not long
since, the opinion of English farmers was sought
upon this question. and large proportion were
of the opinion that it is certainly unadvisable to
break up fair pastures for the purpose of con-
verting il into arabic land.
In ISL about half the land used wholly for
agricultural purposes, in Great Britain, was in
permanent grass, and the proportion is on the
increase. In this country there are various
conditions that exert an influence in determin-
ing the course to be pursed with grass lands.
Where the soil is too moist for cultivation, per-
manent grass or pasturage is desirable. In fields
that are dry, can be easily plowed and culti-
waited, and arc ubject to the influence ofdrought
cultivation and judicious rotation of crops
would be better than permanent grass. II the
surface is hilly and the soil rocky, rendering
cultivation difficult, permanent pastursge is
desirable PaSturage rs a rule does not receive
that attention that il should. In Holland an
acre said to carry COW and sheep. In Her
kimer County, New York, the permanent pas
lures require one and one-half acres for a cow.
IN New England the case is very much worse
from eight to ten acres are necessary for q cow
and, as Prof Stockbridge is accredited with
saying even then the cow comes to the yard
with a sort Of dissatisfied look"
Many pastures are not as profitable as might
be supposed. This is not surprising, when we
think that there is so little done in the line of
maintaining their fertility. There are acres OF
pasturage that have been continued for years as
pasture, that have never received any fertilizer
other than the vOiding Of the animals that &C.
cnpy them.
There is no good reason why pastures should
not receive some attention, so long rs they are
made ali important feature OF the farm. Until
soiling is adopted, pasturage will hold place
OF Importance, and should receive due con-
sideratiOn.-G eTmaHt0srE Telegraph
CORN FED ALONE TO HOGS.
Only during the last two or four weeks of
fa,tening is it profitable to feed hogs on corn
alone, and doubtless some bran or other bal
ancing food can be added then with profit.
Corn has been so much the greatest factor in
the cheap production of pork in the principal
hog-raising regions of the Northwest, that an
element OF danger in il has often been over
looked. Many farmers feed it with very little
other feed to growing pigs and to breeding
animals as well TO fattening hogs, as il tends
10 fat in q remarkable degree; the frame ia
rounded up. the desired form produced, aud
the farmer sees no need OF better food. The
danger in corn is subtle one and as it works
slowly and in an unseen way, il Is the more
necessary TO exercise great care in its use. IL
builds up fat but leaves the bones muscles and
nerves without proper nourishment. These
are injuries We cannot sec until some vital
function, as fecundity OF digestion, ia impaired,
or some disease, as scroihls, or fever. or lung
trouble is contracted. The injurious effects
may not be seen IN one, two, or even more
generations but If corn Is fed almost exclus-
lively, evil will result eventually. The prime
object OF hogs is 10 act rs machines in the pro-
duction of valuable pork. They must have
good constitutions and be healthy in all their
functions to make pork out Of great quantities
OF food at minimum OF cost for food caro-,
breeding, etc. To retain the vigor and value
OF these machines through many generations,
diet with considerable variety in it is neces-
sary. In buying males or breeding-so hog
farmers should satisfy-shemselves that they get
animals which have been intelligently fed and
whose ancestors were likewise well cared for.
Bran, clover, skim-milk. grass or other muscle
and bone-forming foods are not very expensive.
but they have their greatest value in giving
King Corn his highest utility.-Frairie Farmer.
CULTIVATION OF MILO MAIZE
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: The Quilt
walton Of milo maize is very simple. Plant
in rows three and oue-half feet wide, hills in
row two feet apart, five or six grains in hill;
cover one inch. Plant about the time corn IL
planted. A good hoeing or two helps it won
deriully while small then cultivate rs corn.
After seed has been obtained this way, il can
be sown one and one-half to two bushels per
acre. and can be cut two or three times during
the Summer and Fall. Cut first time when
about three feet high; let il cure on the
ground, and then stack it. The second aud
third crops grow much moro rapidly than the
first, as they have good. strong roots to shoot
up from. 1t may also be planted for seed, and,
when ripe, cut and shocked like corn or
the head may be cut of and stored in dry
place, and the stalks afterward cut All stock
eat IT with great avidity, and IL 10 also splendid
Tor hogs. 1t is as near chinchbug proof as
drouth proof Hy small patch turned out at
the rate Of rs bushels of clean seed per acre. !
had quite lot Of seed, but il is all gone !
have received orders for seed from nearly
every State and Territory in the Union. ANY
comrade or farmer friend wishing further in
formation about milo maize or lands in Kan
sas, will answer them II stamps are inclosed
Tor postage.-W. T. SMITH, Box u, Coyyille,
Wilson Co, Kan.
THE POTATO DISEASE.
The experience of those sections Of the coun-
try that have suffered from a visitation Of the
potato disease creates q strong desire for some
efectuAl remedy for the same. It is discour-
aging in the extreme to have q crop so deyas-
tated rs TO require the digging OF 10 to Is hills
TO find single sound tuber. Hero il a splendid
opportunity for study in = search for the great
cause of the disease aud in discovering somo
simple and efectuAl remedy. It Ia labor
thrown away to cultivate the potato IL 10 is 70
20 to such eutirc decay s is experienced in
some sections.
GROWING PEACHES.
The prevalence Of the dreaded disease, tina
"yellows," that has exerted such an influences
In dlscouraging the cultivation Of this crop,
recently led TO an investigation among the
fruitgroweEs OF New Jersey, and the following
conclusions were arrived at: That for Success
full peach culture the soil must be adapted TO
the development Of both wood and fruit, prop
erly located and drained, After being set the
trees should DO thhroashly cultivated, judi
ciously pruned aud ;selI ,pourished with food
suited to a healthy growth and productiveuess.
Over-bearing and want OF nOurishment will be
likely TO produce the disease.
NOTES.
The potato crop Of Lang Island Is unusually
good this year.
About 100 different kinds of insects ars
now known 10 attack corn.
Poultry must as giEen place to scratch
and wRllow, as il il natural for them.
Bone meal, II mixed With cOrnmeal. wheat
or middlings, will make al excellent foed for
fowls. ~
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